A/N Apologies for the delay guys, it's been a busy week! Thank you Teamzollie and Harryfan100103 for your really kind reviews, and thank you all who have been reading so far, you're all awesome
A couple of days passed with both Zosia and Freya being in hospital, but Ollie hardly left their side. When it came for Zosia to be let home, they were gutted to learn that they wanted to keep Freya in. She was doing well, but they wanted to make sure she had gained enough weight before letting her go home. Zosia felt incredibly strange leaving the hospital without their baby, but Ollie was there to reassure her, and Guy had also come to see her.
'She's doing really well, why can't she come home now?' She asked, forgetting she was a doctor. Ollie looked at her sadly and frowned. He knew she knew why, but as a new parent she was worried and just wanted to look after her.
'You know why darling' Guy interjected, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before they went to see Freya one last time before they went home for the night.
'Goodnight darling, mummy and daddy will be back in the morning, although we really want to stay with you' she whispered as she kissed her on the forehead. A nurse smiled sadly.
'It won't be long before she's home' she said kindly, and Zosia nodded in response.
'Thank you' she smiled weakly, and Ollie said goodnight too. As they left the hospital. Zosia was quiet, so quiet that Guy and Ollie were worried.
As they walked past the baby's nursery, Zosia welled up seeing an empty cot. She missed Freya terribly and felt so guilty that she was in the hospital on her own. In her mind still, she should still have been pregnant, Freya should still have been growing.
'She'll be home soon, sweetheart' he assured, placing his hands on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. 'And we'll go back and see her tomorrow, for as long as you like'
'You'll need to bring your toothbrush then, I won't want to leave her' she laughed wearily.
'I know this is far from being an ideal situation, and I miss her too. But see this as a little time to properly rest before the real fun starts'
'I don't want to rest' she snapped, 'I just want our baby to be at home, with us, where she should be'
'I know, but you have had a serious operation' he reminded her, placing his hands on her arms and rubbing them up and down gently. 'You need to rest if you're going to be able to look after Freya and come and see her tomorrow. Do you understand?' He assured, assertively, trying to make eye contact with his fiancée. She did feel exhausted, and knew deep down that Ollie was right. 'Zosia?' He pressed, looking at her intently. She nodded reluctantly and move her arms around him.
'You're right' she sulked, as he held her. 'I'm sorry'
'What for?' He asked, confused, as he pulled away slightly to look into her eyes.
'For not being able to keep her safe' she stuttered, tears welling up in her eyes, and choking slightly on her words. Ollie frowned sympathetically and hugged her tightly.
'Zosh, nothing could have prevented this' he tried to reassure her. 'I know she should be here with us now that she's here, but she is doing so well. It won't be long- she's strong, just like the other women in her family' he comforted, and Zosia nodded in acceptance. 'The motherly instinct has hit you hard March' he laughed lightly. 'You were amazing'
'I hardly remember what happened...I get...flashbacks I suppose, but I don't remember the whole thing...'
'I think you should talk to someone Zosh...this has been traumatic for you'
'I'm fine' she insisted. 'I just want Freya home'
Ollie pulled away and wiped her tears off her cheeks with his thumbs before kissing her. 'Have I told you lately how proud of you I am?'
'We have a cute little dot, don't we?' Zosia smiled proudly the next morning back at the hospital as she cuddled Freya who was sleeping in her arms. 'She's definitely got Valentine feet'
'What do you mean?' Ollie asked, playfully acting hurt, and Zosia laughed.
'They're huge. And she has your eyes too'
'Aww she's hardly bigfoot, are you poppet?' Ollie cooed as he kissed Freya on the forehead.
'No, she's beautiful' she smiled as she passed her to Ollie. Ollie smiled and made a fuss over her for a moment, and then noticed something.
'Zosh did you just pass her to me because she needs changing?' He laughed as Zosia tried to act innocent, and Freya started to whimper. 'What's that Freya, you want mummy to change you?' He teased, and Zosia shook her head.
'No no, I changed her last time, it's your turn' she laughed.
'Fine' he surrendered, as he put Freya down to change her. 'Come on Freyfrey, let's get mummy back' he whispered, smiling at his little partner in crime. 'She looks like she's gaining weight' he pointed out, and Zosia smiled, just as a nurse appeared.
'Yes she's gained a bit of weight since she was born, we'd like to get her to 5lbs before we let her go'
'Where is she at the moment?'
'About 6, 7 oz off being a suitable weight to go home- it's harder for premature babies to keep weight on' the nurse smiled. 'She's doing so well, gaining 20g a day some days. It won't be long, she's already out of the incubator'
'She's got her mother's fighting spirit' Ollie smiled.
Ollie went back to work a few weeks later, taking some annual leave as well as his paternity leave. Zosia remained coming into hospital every day to see Freya until 6 weeks later when neonatal were happy enough to let her come home, and both Ollie and Zosia were ecstatically excited. Putting her into the car seat to take her home, the new parents couldn't stop smiling.
'The real fun starts here' Guy smiled as he walked into NICU, carrying a helium balloon and some flowers for Zosia.
'We can't wait, can we darling?' Ollie smiled, having changed out of his scrubs from his shift, and looking down at Freya as she slept. She was still small, the size of a full term newborn, a thin coating of dark hair, and blue eyes, chubby rosy cheeks, and as Zosia pointed out frequently, long feet. She was beautiful, and everyone was smitten.
'Lets get her home' Zosia smiled excitedly, 'I can't believe she's finally ready' she smiled.
'Yes, let's' Ollie smiled, as Guy opened the door for them and they headed out to the car. They strapped Freya into the back seat as she slept, and as Ollie drove, Zosia sat in the back gazing adoringly at Freya. 'She isn't going anywhere you know, you can blink!' Ollie laughed, catching a glance of her staring at Freya. Zosia stuck up her middle finger in response.
'Why are we driving so slowly?' She asked, and Ollie laughed again.
'I'm not going over 25mph, not with our little monkey in the car'
'Monkey?' Zosia laughed, and Ollie nodded.
'Yes, the feet' he grinned.
Back at home, Ollie made Zosia a cup of tea as Zosia sat on the sofa with Freya asleep against her chest. 'How did we make such a cute little dot?' She gushed as she gently stroked Freya's fine hair, before stroking her tiny fisted hand. She felt so peaceful and content, but as Ollie entered the room, Zosia's mobile began to vibrate. Ollie passed Zosia her tea and then reached for her mobile to answer it for her so as not to disturb Freya.
'Who is it?' Zosia whispered as he picked up the phone, and Ollie looked confused.
'It isn't a number you have saved...' He began as he answered. 'Hello?' He greeted the mystery caller, but they didn't say anything back. 'Hello?' Again, nothing. Ollie paused for a moment, and then hung up. 'Who was it?' Zosia asked, confused, as he put her phone back down on the arm of the sofa.
'Must have been the wrong number' he shrugged, sitting next to her. As they both stared at Freya, they were reminded of how lucky they were to have her. She had given them both a new lease of life, and everything was going to be alright at last. However, what they didn't know was that Seb was feeling very bad about what had happened, and he just had to get her to talk to him...and on a resettlement overnight release, he sat in the dark in his old flat, now empty of his shrine but still haunted by his fallen relationship. He had already began formulating a plan to get her to forgive him...